Mitchell transmission experiences

Jim/GA

Jim/GA

Well-known member
I talked to Sue Mitchell out in California about the Mitchell Syncronized transmission last week. I'm thinking about getting one.

I'm not talking about the overdrive, just the stock-looking transmission that is easier to shift between 2nd and 3rd.

I am interested in people's experiences with it.

Does it perform as advertised?

Anyone ever have any need for warrantee work on it? How cooperative were they about that? I guess warrantee experience with an overdrive unit would be relevant, if you have any. If they are good fixing problems with the O/D units, I suspect they will also be good with these transmissions.

Sue quoted me 14 weeks delivery after they receive payment. What have you all experienced there? Is that pretty accurate?

Any other feedback or comments, positive or negative, would be welcome.

Thanks!
 
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My Cabriolet has all the Mitchell stuff: 15% higher gear ratio (1st and 2nd) syncro ****** and the overdrive. I was sorta forced to the syncro ****** because my wife couldn't get the double-clutch thing. After driving it like this now for more than two years, I love it. I have to admit, I liked the challenge of shifting without clanging gears.
When driving in hills with the OD, it sure is great. By the way, my engine is bone stock. No mods at all.
I highly recommend the setup. A little pricy, but really nice .

By the way, Sue Mitchell was a pleasure to do business with.

FWIW.

Dick Wyckoff
El Segundo CA
 
They can ship it 3-1/2 months AFTER you paid for it? Not cool.

Suggest ordering it through one of the popular Model A dealers so you aren't charged for it until it ships.

I don't have one, but everyone I speak with who does have one in their Model A just raves about it. Is it worth almost $2,000 more to have the synchro? Most say yes.
 
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Unless they changed policy Sue only required a small deposit and balance was required at time of shipping.
I have had mine for 2 years and was the best investment as now the family can drive my Hoover ( 31 Sedan).

No warranty experiences here..


Roger
 
The Mitchell's are good to deal with. I have heard that they are running quite a backlog on items but it is worth the wait. While I don't have the trans I do have the overdrive. I have visited their facility a number of times and they do quality work.
 
Anything from them is worth the wait....and you only play a deposit..Regarding the ******, its fantastic but WHY...is it that difficult to shift the model a trans, are you having problems, I have known older people and ladies that use them all the time to make it easier........i think not at all. And is it worth 2000??? hmmmm
 
When I had had the Diff out for another reason...I took the Mitchell OD back to them , to check it out. With many years and almost 90 thousand miles on it, it was worth the piece of mind. They benched stripped it and measured every thing. They could measure NO WEAR !! The only thing that they could find was a seal that was starting to harden. While it was down, I had the seal replaced and a couple of upgrades done to bring it to current production standards. Ya just can't argue with QUALITY!!! :D
Bruce Davis a400usa@nccn.net
 
I would recommend the Mitchell transmission. I put one in my 1929 special couple and then drove it to Virginia on the national tour down the blue ridge parkway. I used the stand gear ratio and it would travel at 60mph with no noisy at all. I then put in the 15% over in my 1930 tudor sedan and I would recommend it to specially if you are not in a area that has a lot of hills. Mrs Mitchell is great to work with and its worth the wait for the transmission. It was easy to install and runs great.
 
We installed one for a customer, real quality item. The detail they go through just to pack it tells you they truely care about the product they produce. Minor mixup with the U joint coupler that as corrected quickly. Car had a later unit and really needed the early one, the swap was made within a week and the instalation was a quick one. Bob
 
Just incredible units, I have two of them 15 over in first and second.

Downshifting to 2nd is instantaneous and smooth, even for the wife

Another advantage, when accelerating with traffic I can easily go to 45 MPH before shifting into 3rd (or 55 if I'm in overdrive)
 
They take a deposit (maybe 4-500 bucks) and bill the rest when they ship. Yes you have to wait 3 months because everyone wants their stuff, it is so well made. Worth the wait in my opinion. Cannot address the ****** but I just installed the OD and the engineering and quality are there. Bratton's would not carry this ****** if it were a bad thing. Their rep precedes them.
 
msmaron said:
Anything from them is worth the wait....and you only play a deposit..Regarding the ******, its fantastic but WHY...is it that difficult to shift the model a trans, are you having problems, I have known older people and ladies that use them all the time to make it easier........i think not at all. And is it worth 2000??? hmmmm
Click to expand...

If you have knee problems less use of the clutch is a good thing!
 
My car came with '39 Ford synchro ******, Borg Warner overdrive and 4:11 rear end. While I don't mind shifting a non-synchro ******, it's nice to have synchros for sure.
 
I have a syncronized transmission in my car (not a mitchell) but I love the ability to shift into any gear with ease. But i do miss driving a "model A" transmission.
 
I have Mitchel overdrive and standard trans. I didnt know this when I first got my Mitchel. You can put the overdrive in netural and than shift into any gear while moving including first. I often when making a turn, shift overdrive into neutral and than downshift while coasting around the corner.
 
I have this transmission & overdrive setup with 15% 1st -2nd it makes touring in hilly back roads a pleasure with a gear for any challenge ahead. I have had servicing on my unit at a time the car was apart never a charge with fast friendly service. My experience is all good with this setup and this Model A family run business.

Mike
 
Bought two of them and really like it especially downshifting. Wife likes it even more. No problems and Sue was great to deal with.
 
I read that the Mitchell transmission takes more fluid (90wt) than the original. Wonder if you must remove the shifter to add the additional amount should you wish to change the fluid in the Mitchell unit? Any suggestions?
 
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